Vehicle frame



May 17 1927o VEHICLE FRAME original Filed Jung QQ 1924 "2 sheets-sheen v-JNVENTo/e MLTER THMNDL'R.

May 17' 11927'Si w 1,629,301

w. F. PFANDER VEHICLE FRAME Original Filed June 9.1924 2 Sheets-Sheet? iN VENTO/e By' A/Malnsz: 'ANDER.

Patented May 17, 19227.

Ntra #STES WALTER n. Hannan, or Yonxnns, New Yonx, AssrGNon ToWILLI'AM'C. DURANT, y

' on New vena, N.Y. v l

VEHICLE FRAME.

AppIication filed .Tune 9, 1924, Serial No. 718,748. Renewed January 22,1927.

My invention relates to a vehicle frame and, more particularly to aframe construction which imparts additional strength and rigiditythroughout substantially the length of the frame.

In the usual type o vehicle vframes in which the frame is constructed oflongi tudinal, and cross beams of channel or I form, the frame twistsand weaves under the twisting or torsional stresses caused by theunevenness of the road -over which the vehicle passes, due to the factthat the beams forming the frame cannot be designed .nor arranged toresist these stresses without making them of a prohibitive size andWeight. These defects or weaknesses in the usual frame construction havebeen largely obviated by the inventions described in the co-pendingapplications of Sturt and Pfan- V der Serial No. l461,847 and of Pfanderand Raviolo Serial No. 657,949 by the use of tubular, torsion resistingmembers positioned to extend through a portion of the frame and rigidlyattached thereto so that, through their rigidity, the frame may bestiened against torsional stresses throughout the corresponding portionof its length. An object of the present invention is to provide alvehicle frame having a tubular,

or torsion resisting member so secured thereto as'to effectively stiffenthe frame through' substantially its entire length.

` Further objects of the invention are, to provide a combined rivetedand welded connection or joint between the frame members and the tubulartorsion resisting members suchthat any weakening or failure of any oneor more of the welds will not tend to weaken the remaining welds, withthe result that the tubular torsion resisting members will be held inlace even should one or more of the'welds ail.

With these and other objects in view, as

may be perceivedfrom the following` specification, the inventioncomprises the frame construction described and set forth in thefollowing specification. and claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a vehicle frame of a general orconventional type illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic vertical sectional view of the frame taken online 2 2 of Fig. l, i' Fig. 3 is aside view of a frame embodying apreferred form of the invent-ion,

Fig. 4 is a cross Asectional view of the frame taken on line 4 4 of Fig.3,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5 5 oFig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a cross .sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 3, .v

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken on line 9 9 of F ig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a cross vsectional view taken on line l0-10 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a modiied construction of cross beamvshown in Fig. 10,

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1]. 11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is'a detail sectional view taken on line 12 12 of Fig. 10, parts'in elevation, Fig.` 413 is a detail'view, partly iny section, of thejoint and weld between the-j tubular torsion resisting member and theramef Fig. 14 is asimilar view of a modified,

and preferred, .form of welded joint,

Fig. l5 is a perspective view qf the joint shown in Fig. 14, and,

Fig. 16 is a view of a portion of the frame in which the end of thetubular torsion resisting member is to be inserted showing the manner offorming the opening into which the tubular member is to be inserted.

In my present invention the frame is formed of a pair of longitudinalside beams of the usual, or any suitable form, and connectlng crossbeams, the end cross beams being positioned at or approximately near theend of the frame or above the point of support of the frame on the wheelaxle, and' a tubular member or members are arranged lengthwise of theVframe and rigidly joined to the vend cross beams to positively resistthe twisting or torsion of these beams on the tubular members.- The endcross beams project below or have portions projecting below the loweredgeof the side beams an the tubular members are so mounted andpositioned thereon that their lower surfaces are below the lower edgesof the side beams.

lquently a greater The tubular members are also rigidly supported by theframe intermediate its ends by means of a middle crossv beam to whichthey are secured, the entire'structure `being thus formed into a singlerigid beam structure which has a reater depth and consee'am valuev orresistance to bending lforces, than the combined or added beam values ofthe side beams and tubularl members acting separately.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a frameembodying my invention comprises, a pair of longitudmal side beams 1()and l2 and a pair of end cross beams 14 and 16 connected to the sidebeams near their ends and vpreferably directly above the faxlesof thevehicle, the position of which is indicated by the arrows of' Fig. 2, ormidway between the attachment of the end springs to the side beams. Theside and end beams may be of the usual channel or I form or othersuitable construction and may be somewhat lighter than the usual type,owing to the beam strengthen ing effect of the torsion resisting memberor members.

The cross beams -project downwardly below the lower edge of the sidebeams, and a pair of tubular, torsion resisting members 20 and 22 extendbetween and through the end cross beams at a level below that of theside beams and are rigidly secured to the cross beams so that the crossbeams can not turn or t wist,veven slightly, on the tubular members." Asthe tubular structure is particularly resistant to torsional stresses, asubstantially rigid, non-twistable connection is thus provided betweenthe end beams, even though relatively light, thin walled tubes are usedand, by holding the end beams rigid in this manner, the entire frame isrendered rigid throughout its length, and is not distorted byl any forceor stress insuiicient to break the rigid connection between the tubularmembers and end beams. A suiiiciently rigid joint or connection betweenthe end beams and the tubular membersisobtained by welding the tubularmembers to the end beams. For this purpose gas welding is found eectiveand is recommended.

The tubular members, being continuous,

also possess considerable strength as beams and are so mounted on theframe as to add their beam strength to that of the side beams 10 and 12.For this purpose they are supported by the side beams intermediate theend beams 14 and 16, and preferably midway of theseend beams, by meansof a middle cross beam 24 which is rigidly connected at its ends to theside beams 10 and 12. By means of this construction and arrangement, theside beams and the tubular members are united into a single beamstructure, in which the side beams form the uping loads and twistingstresses, and enables a frame of the required strength and rigidity tobe constructed of lighter materials.

The form and arrangement of the side,

cross and tubular members may be adaptedy to meet the requirements andconditions of the vehicle on which the :trame is used and to providemounting surfaces for the engine and other mechanism of the vehicle, asuitable form of' embodiment being illustrated in Figs. 3 to 12,inclusive. In thisl embodiment, the front cross beam 14 is formed with avertical web 28, an upper, forwardly extending flange 30, and al lowerrearwardly extending fiange 32, the middle portion of the web 28 beingstepped forwardly to form a middle Hange portion 34, and dividing theweb into an upper portion 36 and a lower portion 38 and providing amaximum of stiffness and rigidity. The beam extends below the lower edgeof the side beams 10 and 12 and below the tubular members 20 and 22 andthe tubular members project through suitable openings in the lowerportion 38 of the web and are secured therein by welding about theirends as at 40. The end portions of the upper flange 30 are bent to abutthe upper flanges and side webs 42 and 44 of the sidebeams and aresecured thereto by rivets 46, and the web 28 is also bent at its ends asat 48 and riveted to the vertical webs of the side beams. The lowerflange 32 is also riveted to the lower flanges of the side beams. Thecentral portion of' the beam may be depressed as at 49 to permit themounting thereon of' a bearing for the cranking shaft.

The intermediate beam 24 is'preferably of a channel shape in crosssection, having an upper web 50` and a pair of side depending flanges 51and 52 which are bent sidewise at their ends to form lugs 54 and 55which are riveted to the side beams. The beam 24 is bent downwardlybetween the side beams to pass beneath the tubular members 20 and 22 andthe tubular members are firmly secured to the beam by means of doubleended bolts 56 and 57 which extend through and are secured to the upperweb 50 by means of nuts 58. The central portion ofthe beam may beattened as at 60 to provide a mounting surface for a transmission case.

The rear cross beam 16 isform-ed with upper flange 63 and a forwardlyprojecting llower flange 64 and is provided with suitor the projections66 are thus firmly and' a'ble lugs 65 at'its ends by which it is rivetedto the side beams. Ordinarily itis not practicable nor desirable toextend this beam below the side beams as it would then interfere withthe differential or other mechanism and the tubular members 20 land 22are thereforemounted either in plates 66 and 67 riveted to the vertical`web 62 and depending therefrom to the level 'of the tubular members asshown in Fig. 10, oi1 to'downwardly extending projections as at 66',which are integral with the cross beam itself, as shown in Fig. 10a. Theplates 66 and 67 rigidly joined to the cross beam and are stifi'ened bymeans of a flange 68 extending about their lower and side edges thuspreventing bending or warping under the thrusts and tensions andtorsions of the tubular members. With these constructions, the beam 16may be so formed as to avoid linterference with the mechanism beneaththe body of the Vehicle and to `provide a strong and rigid support forthe frame side rails while, at the same time permitting the tllbularmembers to be positioned as low as desired.

Vhile suficient stifening and strengthenving might be obtained with theuse of a single tubular torsional member a pair of such members arepreferred. as by arranging them spaced apart and close to the side beamsthey are so positioned as to avoid the engine, transmission mechanismand other mechanism mounted beneath the frame, while providing l,asymmetrical strengthening effect. The tubular members, in addition totheir functions of stiifening and strengthening the frame also serve assupports for the engine' which may be mounted on and between the tubularmembers. and for other mechanism.-

The tubular members may be joi ned to the end beams by various .forms ofweldsv or equivalent means. as for example, as shown` in Figs. 5 and 6in connection with 4the -front cross beam 14 and in Fig. 13, byprojecting the ends of the tubular members' through an opening 26 in thevertical web 28 of the beam and-building a weld 40 around the.

juncture of the tubular members and beam. The construction shown inFigs. 10, 12, 14,

15 and 16 is however preferred as itprovides .a stronger, cheaper, weldand onein which the tubular members -would be secured to the end beamseven though the bond betweenv the weld and the beam should fail in wholeor in part.

In forming this type of weld a clover shaped opening 72 is formed in the.web of the beam, the outermost edges 73. 74 and 75 of the opening lyingin a circle of the same diameter as the outer surface of the tubularmember which is tobe joined thereto. This form of opening also providesa number of tabs 76, 77 and l78 extending centrally inwardly from theedges 73, 74 and 75.' The tabs 76, 77 and 78 are then bent on lines 79,

V80 and 81 lying in the same-circle as the edges 74 and 75 and thus;forming an opening mtowhich the end portion of the tube 20 vor 22 mayfit and also forming a,

number of tabs' lying closely against the' In welding the tube to thecross'beam,

preferably a gas weld 87 is built on the edges 73, 74 and 75 filling thecentralportion oft the space between-the adjacent tabs. `This weld notonly unites the web of the cross beam to the surface of the tube butalso builds on thel surface of the tube a projectionv which closely fitsthe space between adjacent tabs and, in case the bond between onenofthese weld projectionsand the surface of the cross beam weakens orbecomes loosened, the projection will hold the tube and beam againstrelative movement and the fulltorsional stress will not be thrown on theremaining bonds of the weld. Orin case all of the bonds should becomeweakened or loosened, the torsional strengthening effect will not beentirel lost, since the close tting of the. projections of the weldswith the spaces between the tabs will prevent any eX- tensive movementtherebetween. The rivets 86 serve to attach the tubes to the cross beamsand retain the beam strengthening eHect even though the welds shouldfentirely fail. This manner of welding lalso ,is much less ex .ensivethan continuous welds.

As c anges ofconstruction could be made within the scope of myinvention. it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted aslillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, what I eoy claim and desire to secure byLetters Patmember; having an opening and tabs situated members rigidlysecured to said front cross yaround the periphery thereof and lying beamand extending into openings in said `0 against. the face of said tubularmember and depending plates, said depending plates riveted thereto and'welds between said tabs. having tabs lying against and riveted to saidv. 5 3. A vehicle frame which comprises, a tubular membelzs, saidtubular members bepair of side beams, a front cross beam, a ing Weldedto said depending plates belair of depending plates on said rear crosstween said tabs.

am, and a pair of tubular torsion resisting WALTER F. PFANDER.

